Can i turn off SLI for non-demanding games?

[poohbear]

Hey all, i was wondering if i could turn off SLI for certain non-demanding games that don't need it? eg RTS games really don't need my GTX 670s in SLI mode, i'd rather just have the other one in idle. Is there an option where i can choose which games I run SLI and which games don't? I game @ 1440p so BF3, Shogun 2, and BF3 @ Ultra need SLI, but DoW2, SC2, and Darksiders II are fine with just one.

thanks in advance!

 

[biostud]

why?

 

[cmdrdredd]

Eh...you could do that with the nvidia control panel. Click on "Manage 3D Settings" then click "Program settings". Select the game (or add it) you are using and scroll down to "SLI Rendering Mode" and set it to Single GPU.

You can also use Nvidia inspector. Select the game or application and scroll down to the SLI section and under Nvidia predefined SLI mode select "SLI_Predefined_Mode_Force_Single"

Then when playing the game you will have SLI enabled but only the first card is getting any work. There are a couple games that have SLI forced to single GPU mode in the driver since SLI does not function properly or is unnecessary. Rage and Torchlight 2 come to mind.

 

[poohbear]

Thanks cmdrdred!

As to why, well i thought its self explanatory.... one of the games i play often is way more than fine w/ a single gtx 670, so why bother to use the extrage power wattage & stress the 2nd card? Simply not needed.

 

[PrincessFrosty]

You can also enable vsync and when the cards hit the frame cap they will idle until the next frame is needed, this drastically lowers GPU usage on older games.

 

[stahlhart]

I had a noticable constant stuttering issue with the Steam version of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare that thus far I've only able to eliminate by forcing single GPU rendering (not that 670 SLI is necessary to run this at 1200p anyway).

 

[BallaTheFeared]

With AMD I've been using borderless windowed mode. AMD doesn't work in windowed mode, but I don't think Nvidia has that "feature".

I do this with my CF setup in non demanding games, but AMD has ZeroCore so my second card actually shuts off and even stops spinning the fans. It's quite practical from a power usage standpoint, and even an idle GPU is going to be more efficient than running two at 30% usage.

cmd probably provided the most logical suggestion, otherwise you'll need to physically remove the second card as nVidia's SLI still works in Windowed mode, or at least it did with my 470 SLI setup.

 

[poohbear]

Zerocore sounds ideal, why hasn't Nvidia implemented something similar?

Thanks for the vsync tip! That sounds like exactly what im looking for!

 

[TerryMathews]

Zerocore sounds ideal, why hasn't Nvidia implemented something similar?

Thanks for the vsync tip! That sounds like exactly what im looking for!

Well, I think the answer lies in the question. By your response, it is clearly a novel and innovative feature... Which likely means it's patented.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

AMD doesn't work in windowed mode

*CF AMD CF doesn't work in windowed mode

Felt I needed to correct this ()

 

[poohbear]

Well, I think the answer lies in the question. By your response, it is clearly a novel and innovative feature... Which likely means it's patented.

How can they patent something that makes a GPU idle when not in use? U mean the name is patented?

 

[TerryMathews]

How can they patent something that makes a GPU idle when not in use? U mean the name is patented?

It doesn't just idle. It actually powers down.

Clearly idling isn't patentable. Creating a method to power off the GPU without making Windows go crazy? Clearly a novel idea.

Apple got a patent for round corners. You think this isn't patentable?